Zimra warns corporations on tax evasion

register their businesses and avoid tax evasion practices.
The warning was issued at a recent Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe tax refresher course by Zimra regional manager (greater Harare) Mr Charles Jaure.
“Small enterprises and co-operatives should register with Zimra and desist from tax evasion by virtue of their not being registered. Such practices are illegal and once Zimra catches up with you there will be a lot of penalties involved which could result in the closure of some organisations,” he said.
Mr Jaure added that Zimra would soon require only qualified tax consultants to operate in Zimbabwe and in addition it would be compulsory for all organisations to engage professional auditors.
“In the near future Zimra is going to make it a mandate that anyone who is going to be a consultant in tax should at least have appropriate qualifications.
“At present a lot of firms have their tax returns being done by y some consultants and individuals that do not even know how to calculate their own tax returns leaving out some important elements. Once Zimra finds these unscrupulous culprits they will be fined heavily,” said Mr Jaure.
Deloitte’s associate director Ms Monica Gotora encouraged local firms to comply with the fiscalisation requirements saying that the deadline for the implementation of the fiscalised tax devices had not been changed.
Ms Gotora said extensions of getting the fiscalised devices will only be granted on application where an order has already been placed not after making a quotation.
The Government has since maintained that the deadline for the commencement of the fiscalisation process remains January 1 and that non-compliant firms would face penalties. The Government has also said it has authorised Zimra to undertake inspections and accordingly invoke penalties for non-compliance by operators.
The fiscalisation programme has been undertaken to improve the Government’s revenue collection system as it seeks to boost the fiscus.